The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-07-08
WHOLE NO. 939.

among branch of the tribe in Lincoh
county, N. G.. One of the Darrs served as
soldier III the United States army in the wa
OF lol2 Their language is peculiar in tina
1t IS strictly Anglo-Saxon. It contains man,
words In common use which have been obso
lete for long period in most of England. Fo]
instance, "housen" is the plural of house
"crone" is to push down; for "asA" they sa,
"aks" (old English) for "tathern they say
yther." knowledge is spoken of as swit.
AS TO family names, over twenty of those
held by the long lost colonists are found
James pronounced in the old English way
Jeams) Lowry is very common name
among them The name of Locklear is also
found, and Cuzzie Locklear is one of the old
est living members. The name Dial was
formerly Doyle The name Coins was once
0'Gwinn. Priscilla and Rho1A are the most
common names Of women, and Henry that of
men. One of the Oldest men is Aaron Reyels.
who is more than 100 years of age He is an
uncle OF Senator Revels, of Mississippi.
The prevalence of the name Lowry has
been referred to. According to tradition q
man named James Lowry came from "Chesa-
peake" and married in the tribe, and became
the progenitor of large and influential
family. That family, at the time the tribe
broke up, moved away from the Roanoke
section, went to western North Carolina
perhaps to Buncombe. Lowry's descendants
they say, We're "leaders among men," Gov
ernor James Lowry Swain, who after sery-
ing as chief magistrate of North Carolina
was for over quarter of century president
OF the State university, was descendant.
as was also Lieutenant Governor James
Lowry Robinson, of this state.
They have always, their traditions saw.
been warm friends of the white people. 1t is
said that long ago they fought under Bonnell
tBarnWelD III the wars against the Indian
tribes. Many of them were in the Continen
tai army in the war of the revolution, and
company was sent to fight the British in the
war OF 1912. The English names of men in
these companies are remarkable as those of
whites colonists in many cases. Some of
the Croatans were slave owners, and some
kept houses of entertainment for travellers
Their cleanliness is a characteristic. Pby-
slcians who practice among them speak of
this and say they never hesitate about Sleep
ing Or eating in the house of Croatan They
are hospitable people also, and very oblie-
ing. They are proud of their race and have
far stronger race prejudices than either whites
or negroes. They are the best of friends. but
the most dangerous of enemies. Indian char
acteristics are marked Their fondness for
cloth Of a red color is remarkable, and In this
most OF their women are dressed They
march In "Indian file" In their travels. They
are reticent, unless one gains their confidence.
They are OF all colors, from pure white to
copper. Many of them can with difficulty he
distinguished from white peop.e.
Their women are in many cases beautiful.
with superb figures. as voluptuous in some
cases as those of the far famed Hawaiian
niaidens. One Of their most beautiful women
was Rhoda Lowry, who was sometimes
spoken Of as "Queen Rhoda" Their move
ments are grace itself, and the dress is worn
in most becoming way, though simple in
texture and design. s**
The Croatans were recognized as white
people, and attended the same schools with
white pupils. But in 1885 another curious
thing in their eventful history occurred.
They were deprived of the right to vote, and
tIassed "free persons of color" under an
to the state constitution, adopted
that year, which prohibited that class from
voting or attending school. The Croatans al
lege that they were deprived of voting to eff
feet a change in the politics of their country.
They were aot allowed to attend school from
1885 to 1868. Since the latter date some Of
the poorer class attended the public colored
schools But that is at an end They are
now race apart, fully recognized and cared
for educationally.
Some seventeen years ago member of the
tribe, Henry Berry Lowry, disgraced it by
becoming the chief of band of outlaws,
which for months terrorized that section and
caused a national sensation. Finally they
were killed and that blot was wiped out.
s"#
Such is the history of the Croatalls, from
1857 to 1887. They were dwellers In Tyr
rell, Dare, ETC., who happened to be on
Roanoke island. They Induced Whites colo !
lists to so to the mainland with them. They
and out of regard for the white
ace the latter's family names were chosen.
After years Of life in eastern Carolina the
ribe, after the manner of many others, |
moved to other places and chose Robson as
is main abiding place. The rest has been
old, part on well grounded tradition, part on
we'll known facts. The Croatans OF today |
ieserye double place in history.
It is pleasant to mention that the state of
North Carolina, which named its capital |
Raleigh, after the worthy Sir Walter, has
,amed its easternmost county Dare, in honor
# that little tribe, whose eyes first saw the
light there and whose name has gone down
nto the romance of history.
F. A. OLDs.